Drinking in Italy Alarm bells sounded in the Italian popular press last week when statistics released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that Italians have their first drink at 11-12 years of age – the youngest age in Europe, where the average is at 14 and a half. Comparisons with the rest of Europe showed... »
Italians are rude
Speak up! According to a recent French parliamentary report, the French admit to being arrogant. So if the French are arrogant, what are the Italians? Setting aside the Mafiosi stereotype, I do think Italians behave in ways that are acceptable here, but to non-Italians make us seem loud, rambunctious, and even rude. The crux of the... »
Italian sense of humour
To be or not be – serious about life We may be not that polite or courteous, but we like to make people laugh. There is always time for a good chuckle in Italy. Nearly every chat turns into a rhetorical, sarcastic and above all humourous exchange. Your neighbour, the local shopkeeper, and the man in... »
Water in Sicily
Sicily is the third world of Europe It has never been so clear as now – Sicily is part of the third world. Images of people shouting and fighting while queuing to get some water from public... »
Italian Siesta
Having a siesta makes people work more and better Workplace napping is a natural, no-cost way to increase worker productivity. Employers should allow (and even encourage) workers to nap on their work breaks. Doctors, researchers and scientists (at Nasa) have finally quantified the benefits of the daily nap. It has been found that having a nap... »
Italians do it better
I read with interest lately that according to a recent survey produced by condom maker Durex, Italians do it better. Their statistics reveal that the Italian women are the most satisfied in the world and are more likely to reach orgasm, 61% on average, compared to Spanish women (47%), Americans (39%) British (35%), German... »
Italian TV – SHOWTIME!
Television is an integral part of everyday life in Italy. On average there are three TV sets per family and the one in the kitchen is always on during meals. Bars, restaurants and public places often have a TV blaring in the corner. According to the research institute TNS Abacus, we watch TV for... »
Italian anti-war sentiment
Why is the anti-war sentiment is still so strong in Italy? We Italians, like the French, Spanish, Germans and Greeks, have a recent history that encompasses two world wars, and civil wars on our home territory in the last 60 years. Unlike the British and the Americans – who have never been invaded in the... »